Clamp for vertical alignment of poles



y 1958 R. N. JACKSON 2834,118

CLAMP FOR VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF POLES Filed June 25, 1956 CLAMP FORVERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF POLES Riley N. Jackson, Abilene, Tex.

Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,689

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-215) My invention relates to a clamp for verticalalignment of poles, and in particular to a detachable clamp which can beused successively on a series of poles in a construction project tosecure readily the vertical alignment of each pole as it is set inplace.

The objects of my invention are to provide a clamp of inexpensiveconstruction, which can readily be placed on or near the upper end ofthe pole, readily detached for such use on the next pole, which isprovided with swinging pointers each provided with a scale to indicatetrue vertical or plumb position, and which may have the pointers offsetfrom the center of the clamp to provide for irregularities in the pole,each such pointer being provided with a scale upon which true verticalposition can be determined regardless of the offset.

Such a clamp is expected to expedite the setting of poles in a pole linesince the true vertical alignment or plumbness of the pole can bedetermined at the time the pole is set in the ground, and no furthercheck on the alignment will be necessary.

With these objects in view my invention resides in the construction andarrangement of parts, herein fully described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, which are a part of this specification,and in which like characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a vertical side view of one form of my pole clamp in place onthe pole;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical side view of another form of pole clamp, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of this second form in place on the pole.

On the pole to be erected I place the clamp jaws 11 and 12 which are ofsuch shape as to be inserted on the pole 10 by spreading the jaws. Theupper jaw ccnsists of two straps 11 which end in outwardly turned lips13 and have at their back end a flat portion of the strap which servesto join them to form a continuous spring strap. The strap 12 likewisehas outwardly turned lips 13 and a flat portion 15 at the back. Bothstraps 11 and 12 are wide enough apart between the jaws 13 to beinserted upon and to grip the pole 10.

These straps 11 and 12 are connected by a vertical back plate 14 weldedto the two flat portions 15 so that the two clamp jaws 11 and 12 operatetogether.

On the strap 11 in the first form I place two eyes 16 and 17, the formeron the back plate 14 and the latter on the strap 11 so as to be 90degrees distant from it. To each of these eyes 16 and 17 I connect apointer 18 having an eye at its top end for such connection and an arrowpoint 19 at its bottom end. These pointers 18 swing freely, and at thebottom end of each there is placed on the strap 12 under the eye 17 aseries of centering ted States Patent C) 2,834,118 iatented May 13, 1958marks 20, and on the back plate 14 under the eye similar series ofmarks, not shown.

While the pole is being erected and is nearly vertical the pointers 18will indicate how near to plumb the pole is, and when it is corrected tostand vertical the pole can be secured in such position by tamping.

In my second form I have provided for moving the pointer 24 to one sidein order to provide for irregularities that may occur in the pole. Onthe top clamp strap 11 I place theshelf 22, welded to the strap and atright angles thereto. This shelf has a series of five holes connected bya slot 28 spaced equally apart. The back plate 14 likewise has a shelf27 provided with three holes connected by a slot 29 and spaced equallypart. instead of the connecting eye for the pointer 18 I provide apointer 24 having a head 23 bigger than the hole in the shelf and endingin arrow 25. This pointer 24 can therefore swing freely in the holes inthe shelves 22 and 27. The scale 26 on the clamp strap 12 is adapted toindicate true verthe back thereof, and being adapted to be inserted overa and grip the pole, and a rigid vertical member to which each of saidflattened portions is joined, a shelf support fastened to said verticalmember near the top thereof provided with means for supporting avertical pointer at anyone of several positions, a second shelf supportfas tened to the side of said upper spring jaw provided with means forsupporting a vertical pointer at any one of several positions, aswingable vertical pointer depending from each of said supports, a scaleon the lower part of said vertical member, and a second scale on theside of the lower spring jaw, each of said scales provided with markswhereby the vertical position of the pointer can be determinedregardless of which position on the shelf the pointer is depending from.

2. A detachable pole clamp consisting of upper and lower spring jawseach jaw having a flattened portion at the back thereof, and beingadapted to be inserted over and grip the pole, and a rigid verticalmember to which each of said flattened-portions is joined, a shelfsupport fastened to said vertical member near the top thereof providedwith a series of several holes connected by a slot, a second shelfsupport fastened to the side of said upper spring jaw provided with aseries of a plurality of holes connected by a slot, a swingable verticalpointer having an enlarged head which pointer is inserted through eachof said shelf supports, a scale on the lower part of said verticalmember, and a second scale on the side of the lower spring jaw, each ofsaid scales provided with marks whereby the vertical position of thepointer can be determined regardless of which hole in the self thepointer is depending through.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS297,7l9 Root Apr. 29, i884 790,813 Auld May 23, 1905 1,265,468 MadsenMay 7, 1918 1,328,370 Dutton Jan. 20, 1920 1,940,808 Linsert Dec. 26.1933

